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Did a tune up, cranks but no start?

Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 DODGE RAM
  • 5.2L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 152,000 MILES
Hey! I got an old Ram and I recently did a tune up. My dad hasn’t done it for 7-8+ years and the plugs were shot. Surprised, it even ran as long as it did. Two wires were burned, and the distributor has marks everywhere. Terrible condition really. Anyway, the truck doesn’t run. It cranks perfectly. Fuel pump turns on. The tachometer moves so I don’t think it’s a sensor or anything. I double and triple checked the firing order and distributor rotor.
18436572 and clockwise rotation rotor. Button on wire 1. I really have no idea why it’s not starting. I’ve read things about TDC and like the timing chain but I’m not sure. Truck ran before doing this tune up.
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Friday, September 30th, 2022 AT 11:41 AM

27 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,904 POSTS
Yep, first we need to check the compression which you can do by using this guide or you can shoot a quick video of it cranking over so I can hear it, I will be able to tell from the video. Next will the engine run on starting fluid? Also does the ignition system have spark?

These guides and videos will help us get you going again:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

and

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y

Please go over these guides and report back.

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Friday, September 30th, 2022 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
This is the video of it cranking. I’ll start looking at those guides, and by the way I don’t have any testing tools for sparks or electricity. That was my next purchase, I’m still relatively new to the DIY mechanic stuff, lol.
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Friday, September 30th, 2022 AT 3:07 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,904 POSTS
No problem and thanks for the video, we can walk you through this repair. I would do a compression test because the engine sounds like it might be damaged, like the timing chain could be bad.
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Saturday, October 1st, 2022 AT 12:00 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Okay, just bought a multimeter, compression tester, and a spark tester. I’ll let you know as soon as I get answers.
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Saturday, October 1st, 2022 AT 2:02 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
I’m about to do the tests but just to clarify the firing order, just in case. Using the photo here...

The 4 cylinders on the right side of the engine where the battery is, is 1357.

And the 4 cylinders on the left side of the engine where the intake is, is 2468.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 6:26 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Okay so, I didn’t have to ask that question the cylinder numbers are on the engine. I’m definitely placing them All correctly. My next idea is to just plug it all back in and spark test it. Why would the plugs have fuel on them? It smells like gas when I crank the truck too and I googled and it says maybe they’re loose but they aren’t they’re all 30+ ft lbs and I went back and snugged them all just in case.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Okay so I tested the ignition coil and it fires. Tested cylinder 1 and it fires.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Tested the distributor, and it fires. Safe to say all of them are firing correctly.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 8:14 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Alright new discovery. My oil dipstick has a smell of gas on the end, my compression has issues. I'm going to test it.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 8:18 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Okay, so, while preparing my compression test undoing all of the plugs, all of them have this look to them, I guess from cranking it to get it started? Note that these are brand new NGL platinum plugs.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 9:16 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Put my camera in my cylinders. Here’s cylinder 2.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 9:19 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Here’s my compression test. 4 revolutions per cylinder. My cylinder 5 read 110 and then I retested and it read 130. Not sure.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 9:50 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Quick question, could over tightening the spark plug cause it not to start?
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 10:28 AM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
They weren’t overtightened. I just bought started fluid going to do that test when the rain calms.

Quick edit, I know I posted a lot but here is my cylinder 2 there’s something inside of it. Something yellow or something?

Anyway, the truck started before I did the tune up so there’s no way right? Like I’m genuinely stumped, and I really need the truck for this coming week. Should I reinstall old plugs/wires/and distributor? I really don’t know and now that it doesn’t start, I can’t take it to a shop.
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
One last post before a response, sorry I know I’m posting a lot.

I got my distributor, rotor, wires and plugs all from AutoZone online using my exact model so I know they’re all correct. Maybe I should switch to the OEM plugs, which are Champion coppers.

All I did was uninstall distributor, rotor, wires, and plugs and reinstalled with brand new ones. Didn’t touch a single other part and it started before doing this... How can the problem be something else? I used compressed air after taking out the plug wires so when uninstalling the plugs nothing fell in. I'm genuinely so confused right now and it’s very serious for me. Hope I can get her started. :(
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 12:39 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
So! Could it possibly be a flooded engine? My plugs have wet soot all over them. It could be from cranking it over too many times. The first time I changed the plugs and wires. Could’ve gotten the firing order wrong and then the next morning when I re did the plugs and firing order with a marker, got the order right but by that time the engine was already flooded?
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 12:56 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
It could be flooded. Okay so, before doing all this tune up. My truck's thermostat never went to the middle of the gauge, operating temperature. It also sat lower. Maybe 25% of the way. Or could that be an electrical issue?
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Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 AT 12:59 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
Hey, I just attempted to start my truck with 2 rounds of starter fluid. 1st round didn’t work, just some popping sounds and the 2nd time we tried, it made a big pop sound and blew flames out of the throttle body and was smoking a bit. Why’s it firing and igniting like that? I wish I got a video of it.
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Monday, October 3rd, 2022 AT 7:43 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,904 POSTS
Thanks for the images and videos. Yep, this is a sign the firing order is incorrect, here is how the speak plug wires should be one the distributor. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Monday, October 3rd, 2022 AT 5:57 PM
Tiny
BRENDON MISKIMON
  • MEMBER
  • 25 POSTS
This is exactly how my distributor and plugs are set up. 100%. I did my distributor myself. Should I find TDC and set timing?
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Monday, October 3rd, 2022 AT 6:16 PM

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